Alzheimer's Disease

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people are suffering from Alzheimer's disease in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The information requested is not available. Alzheimer's disease impacts on people's lives at many different levels and diagnosis is not always certain.

Armed Forces: Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have consulted the Government of the United States over technology transfer issues with respect to the future strategic tanker aircraft project; and, if so, what were the results.

Lord Drayson: Ministry of Defence officials and representatives of AirTanker Ltd, the department's preferred bidder for the future strategic tanker aircraft (FSTA) PFI contract, are in regular contact with officials of the United States Government. AirTanker Ltd is currently engaged in securing US export licences to support the FSTA programme. The United States Government are providing valuable help and support to the process.

Armed Forces: RAF Logistics

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) officers; (b) non-commissioned officers; (c) other ranks; and (d) civilians of different grades they expect to staff the logistics hub for the Royal Air Force to be formed at RAF Wittering.

Lord Drayson: The numbers of personnel that form part of the No. 85 expeditionary logistics wing at RAF Wittering are shown below.
	
		
			  Number 
			 Officers 13 
			 Senior non-commissioned officers 64 
			 Junior Ranks 322 
			 Civilians Six non-industrials (one band D grade, three E2 grades and two E1 grades)

Armed Forces: RAF Logistics

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) officers; (b) non-commissioned officers; (c) other ranks; and (d) civilians of different grades they expect to staff the communications hub for the Royal Air Force to be formed at RAF Leeming.

Lord Drayson: The communications hub at RAF Leeming will not be fully formed until autumn 2007 and the establishment figures have yet to be finalised. The table below shows the current establishment figures of the relevant units.
	
		
			  Number 
			 Officers 37 
			 Senior non-commissioned officers 152 
			 Junior ranks 524 
			 Civilians 18 Non-industrial (18 grade D posts)

Asylum Seekers: Legal Advice

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the concerns expressed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in March concerning the detention of asylum applicants reaching Northern Ireland; and in particular, whether they ensure that all such adults have immediate access to legal advice.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There have been some recent developments in respect of immigration detention in Northern Ireland. Until early 2006 it had been the case that, where it was necessary to detain individuals in Northern Ireland, men were accommodated in the Working Out Unit, Crumlin Road, Belfast and women were accommodated at HMYOC Hydebank Wood. It is now the case that individuals in Northern Ireland who are detained under Immigration Act powers are no longer held in Northern Ireland. Such individuals are transferred to a detention facility in Great Britain either on the day of detention or within 24 hours. In the majority of cases individuals will initially be detained at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre. We consider that the revised detention arrangements are better than those they replaced, which entailed the routine use of prison accommodation for detainees. Individuals who are transferred under the new arrangements will have exactly the same access to legal advice and representation as any other detainee. They will be informed about their right to legal representation and how they can access such representation within 24 hours of their arrival at a removal centre.

Aviation: Emergencies

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that an aircraft which declares a technical emergency mayday prior to commencing a standard arrival procedure into London Heathrow, over a densely populated area, is redirected to an alternative airport.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Civil Aviation Authority has published enhanced guidance to controllers and air navigation service providers on the management of an aircraft in an emergency situation where the intended flightpath passes over densely populated areas.
	However, the circumstances and severity of each emergency situation vary enormously and may change at short notice during any particular incident. Therefore, the commander of the aircraft, being responsible for the safety of that aircraft, is also responsible for the selection of the most appropriate aerodrome for landing.
	I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 21 March 2006 (Official Report, cols. 131–33).

Aviation: Emergencies

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was their response to the Air Accident Investigation Branch's report on the Evergreen 747 flight incident that occurred on 24 April 2004.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Safety recommendation 2005-69 of the Air Accident Investigation Board's report into the Evergreen incident, published on 12 January 2006, was accepted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
	The CAA has since reviewed guidance to air traffic controllers, air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and relevant training institutions on managing aircraft in emergency situations where the intended flightpath passes over a densely populated area. The Manual of Air Traffic Services (MATS) part 1 was modified on 28 April and the relevant text is reproduced below, changes being shown in bold.
	"It is desirable that aircraft in emergency should not be routed over densely populated areas, particularly if there is reason to believe that the aircraft's ability to remain in controlled flight is compromised or that parts of the aircraft could detach in flight. If this is inconsistent with providing the most appropriate service to the aircraft, for example when any extended routing could further jeopardise the safety of the aircraft, the most expeditious route is the one that should be given. Where possible, when expeditious routing is not required, suggestions of alternative runways or aerodromes together with the rationale that the routing would avoid densely populated areas and be consistent with safety, shall be passed to the pilot and his intentions requested".
	I refer the noble Lord my Answer of 21 March 2006 (Official Report, cols. 131–33).

Corruption: UN Convention

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the European Union will exert positive pressure in the United Nations to ensure an effective implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Lord Triesman: The EU is firmly committed to ensuring the effective implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The EU, and those member states that are parties to UNCAC, intend to play a significant role in ensuring the success of the first conference of states parties in December 2006. The conference is important as it will provide the basis for UNCAC implementation. The UK is working to encourage ratification in all EU member states.

Courts and Tribunals: Draft Bill

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When a draft Courts and Tribunals Bill, as mentioned in the Queen's Speech of 23 November 2004, will be published.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Government's intention is to publish the Bill in draft during the current parliamentary Session.

Drivers: Speed Cameras

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many speed cameras are in operation in Northern Ireland; and whether they have any plans to introduce more such cameras.

Lord Rooker: The PSNI presently have four fixed safety cameras in operation, all of which are located in the greater Belfast area. It also has eight mobile speed detection cameras, which are a regional resource and are deployed at identified sites across Northern Ireland where there is a history of injury collisions and evidence of speeding.
	The PSNI is committed to ensuring the safety of Northern Ireland roads for all sections of the community and as a result of the success of the introduction of the fixed safety cameras in the Belfast area, it has purchased and commenced the installation of a new style of fixed camera system, which measures motorists' average speed over greater distances, at two locations on the A1 road to the north and south of Newry city.
	Further routes will continue to be examined with a view to deploying additional fixed cameras on routes where the reduction of serious casualties can be maximised in future.

Dyslexia

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the population of Northern Ireland they estimate to be dyslexic.

Lord Rooker: The requested information is not available. However, 1 per cent of children at schools in Northern Ireland in 2005–06 are recorded as being dyslexic.

Education: Northern Ireland Post-primary Provision

Lord Rana: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will recall the Northern Ireland Assembly or its Education Committee to consider the current proposals to reform post-primary education in response to concerns expressed over the restructuring.

Lord Rooker: The Government recognise that direct rule is second best and will continue to work toward restoration at the earliest opportunity. However, the Government believe that it is inappropriate to allow this to affect the implementation of vital social reforms.
	The review of post-primary education has been going on for more than five years. There has been extensive consultation on the key elements of the reform package and we must proceed to implement the changes and end the uncertainty for pupils and parents.

Energy Efficiency: Railways

Lord Tanlaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have assessed how much carbon emission and electricity would be saved if Network Rail and London Underground Limited were to replace steel conductor rail with aluminium equivalent.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government have not made such an assessment.

Firearms: Consultation

Lord Mancroft: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the publication of the response to the Home Office 2004 consultation paper, Controls on Firearms, has been delayed.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We received a very large response to the consultation—around 4,500 submissions. They have all been read and analysed and a summary is being prepared which will be published in due course. We will consider how and when to establish the firearms advisory committee once we have determined how we want to proceed with the review of firearms controls. The last meeting of the Firearms Consultative Committee was held on 14 January 2004.

Gabon: Wild Animals

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Government of Gabon regarding the treatment of gorillas and other captive wild animals in that country.

Lord Triesman: Gabon, along with the UK and all great ape range states, is a partner to the UN environment programme/UN educational, scientific and cultural organisation great apes survival project partnership. This project aims to bring worldwide attention to the great ape crisis, raise funds for conservation and develop a global strategy for conserving great ape populations.
	We welcome the establishment of 13 national parks throughout Gabon but are concerned about the treatment of captive great apes and other wild animals in Gabon and would encourage the Government to ensure conditions are improved.
	There is no resident UK mission in Libreville, so our main engagement in-country, including on sustainable development, is through EU partners.

Gabon: Wild Animals

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Government of France regarding the alleged use of wild animals in experiments carried out by French military forces in Gabon.

Lord Triesman: France has strict rules and regulations on the use of wild animals in experiments and we are not aware of the French military forces in Gabon abusing them.

Government Departments: IT Services

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which information technology service companies are providing major services to central government departments; and which departments each such company is serving.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Reliable information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Reception and Detention Centres

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many complaints were made during 2003 to 2005 involving allegations of racism or inappropriate behaviour against staff at immigration reception and detention centres; and what was the nature of each complaint.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The total number of complaints of racism and inappropriate behaviour made against all contracted staff, including those employed in reception and removal centres can be found in the Complaints Audit Committee reports on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website. However, information on the nature of each allegation made against reception and removal centre employees is not readily available except on examination of Immigration and Nationality Directorate case files at disproportionate cost.

Irish Language Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have agreed that part of the Irish Language Agency should move to County Donegal; if so, when they agreed this; by what procedure; and after what consultation.

Lord Rooker: At their meeting in Belfast on 6 March 2006 with the board chairperson and chief executive of Foras na Gaeilge, British and Irish Ministers agreed in principle, subject to the approval of the North/South Ministerial Council, that 30 Foras na Gaeilge staff posts should be located in Gweedore, County Donegal. The board of Foras na Gaeilge is to bring forward further proposals relating to the precise sections and functions to be located there.
	Regarding consultations I have nothing further to add to the Answers I gave the noble Lord on 10 October 2005 (WA 41), 17 November 2005 (WA 158) and 30 November 2005 (WA 41).

Local Government: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Comptroller and Auditor-General for Northern Ireland and the Audit Commission have been asked to examine the financial feasibility of current proposals to create seven councils in a re-structuring of local government in Northern Ireland; and, if so, what were the results of this examination.

Lord Rooker: No such request has been made. It is not the function of the Comptroller and Auditor-General for Northern Ireland nor the Local Government Auditor (who is responsible for local government audit in Northern Ireland) to comment on or be involved in policy development.

Neighbourhood Renewal: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding has been agreed in Northern Ireland under the neighbourhood renewal project; for what purpose; and in which cases the provision of a mobile phone was agreed and why.

Lord Rooker: This information has been placed in the Library.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What directions have been given under the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order (SI 859/1999); and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of all documentation and correspondence relating to the directions.

Lord Rooker: No such directions have been given.

Northern Bank Robbery

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the £26 million stolen during the Northern Bank robbery has been recovered to date.

Lord Rooker: The £50,000 recovered from the Newforge sports ground, Belfast, has been attributed to the robbery. Further moneys have been recovered in the Republic of Ireland and the An Garda S-ochána are currently investigating their provenance.

Northern Ireland Act 1998

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What amendments have been made to the Northern Ireland Act 1998; for what purposes; and when.

Lord Rooker: I am arranging for the noble Lord to be forwarded a copy of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 with all subsequent amendments. Unfortunately, there is no centrally held register of policy justifications for each of these amendments; this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland National Stadium

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What agreement exists with Sinn Fein and the Irish Republican Army concerning the creation of a National Stadium for Northern Ireland; when any such agreement was made; and by whom.

Lord Rooker: There is no such agreement.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 18 April (WA 190) concerning the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival in 2007, what Ulster-Scots activities have been offered for inclusion in the festival by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Lord Rooker: The programme content of the Folklife Festival will be determined by the Smithsonian Institution's curators and is underpinned by extensive research.
	The Ulster-Scots Agency submitted a list of recommendations of consultees which it felt may lead to potential participants for the festival.

Northern Ireland: Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the additional information required by the Northern Ireland Department of Social Development from the Ardoyne Nationalist Festival in 2005 before a grant of £60,080 was offered; and whether they will place a copy of the economic appraisal for the funding in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: The Department for Social Development requested that the Ardoyne Festival provide the following additional information before approving the grant of £60,080:
	Constitution
	List of Office Bearers
	Bank statements
	Audited accounts
	Copies of applications to other funders
	Letters of rejection from other funders (where applicable)
	Organisational chart
	Confirmation regarding whether the group was VAT registered
	Detailed breakdown of funding
	A copy of the economic appraisal will be placed in the Library.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Northern Ireland Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Office has not received any specific recommendations from the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Peace Funding: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 29 March (WA 124) on Peace II funding, who chaired the selection process for intermediary funding bodies to offer grants; who was on the panel and what groups were selected; and what undertaking was made that funding would be provided on a cross-community basis.

Lord Rooker: The panels that selected the intermediary funding bodies for the Peace II programme were chaired by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and included one further representative of SEUPB, a representative from the Department of Finance and Personnel and a representative of the government department accountable for the area of activity being tendered for. In addition, the selection panels for the original Peace II programme included a PricewaterhouseCoopers representative, as they facilitated the selection process, and the panels for the Peace II extension included an independent representative from the NI housing executive.
	The intermediary funding bodies selected for the Peace II programme are listed below:
	Area Development Management (ADM) and Combat Poverty Agency (CPA)—ADM/CPA now known as Border Action
	Community Relations Council (CRC)
	Co-operation Ireland
	Education Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA)
	Northern Ireland and Pre-school Playgroups Association (NIP PA)
	Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT)—now known as Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI)
	PROTEUS
	Playboard
	Rural Development Council (RDC)
	Southern Education and Library Board (SELB)
	Training for Women Network (TWN)
	Youth Education Social Inclusion Partnership (YESIP)
	The aim of the Peace II programme is to promote peace and reconciliation, and funding is provided on the basis of which applications best meet the relevant measure and programme level selection criteria.

Police: Assaults on Officers

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any charges were brought against any individual relating to the serious assault on Police Constable Michael Brentnall.

Lord Rooker: At present, no charges have been brought against any individual relating to the assault on Constable Brentnall.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many investigators are currently employed in the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; and what is their primary duty.

Lord Rooker: The Police Ombudsman has advised that 62 investigators are currently employed by her office. The primary duty of an investigator is to act on behalf of the Police Ombudsman to investigate matters, by way of making inquiries and gathering information and evidence, in circumstances where the actions of any police officer have been subject of a public complaint, or where there are matters requiring investigation following referrals by the chief constable, Policing Board or Director of Public Prosecutions, or where the Police Ombudsman has called herself in.

Police: Prosecutions of Officers

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the finding of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland against Constable Michael Brentnall and what was the charge for which he was tried by a jury at Belfast Crown Court; what time elapsed between the beginning of the Police Ombudsman's investigation and a verdict being reached; whether this police officer was suspended from duty and for how long; and what was the outcome of this case; and
	What was the finding of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland against Detective Constable Brian Wilson and what was the charge for which he was tried by a jury at Downpatrick Crown Court; what time elapsed between the beginning of the Police Ombudsman's investigation and a verdict being reached; and what was the outcome of this case.

Lord Rooker: I would refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 11 January 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 75–76). Individual cases conducted under the independent investigatory powers and statutory functions of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland should be pursued directly with her. Any specific inquiries regarding police employment matters are for PSNI to address and should be pursued directly with the chief constable.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many persons were serving custodial sentences at the start of each of the past 10 years; and, in each case, how many were foreign nationals.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information on the number of people in prison establishments in England and Wales under an immediate custodial sentence as at 30 June, from 1996 to 2005, is given in the table.
	
		Immediate custodial sentenced population in prison establishments in England and Wales by nationality and year
		
			 As at 30 June1 
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
			 Total 42,914 48,674 52,159 51,293 53,093 54,169 57,272 59,393 60,924 62,179 
			 British nationals 39,793 45,311 48,442 47,377 49,059 49,471 51,471 52,882 54,453 55,496 
			 Foreign nationals 2,867 3,250 3,546 3,864 3,919 4,576 5,607 6,281 6,256 6,510 
			 Unrecorded 
			 nationality 
			  254 113 171 52 115 122 194 231 215 173 
		
	
	Note: 1Historic information is available only for 30 June in each year.
	Source: Central prison IT system.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many addresses of foreign prisoners released under licence into the community since 1999 the National Probation Service furnished to the Secretary of State for the Home Department immediately upon his request.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: From the initial list circulated on 27 April 2006, of 79 names, the National Probation Directorate provided details for 20 under probation supervision immediately upon request. The others were not known to the service.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What biometric information is taken from foreign prisoners in British prisons; where such information is kept; and whether they plan to issue identity cards to all foreign subjects found guilty in a British court.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Every prisoner convicted of a criminal offence, except those imprisoned for non-payment of fines, should be fingerprinted regardless of nationality. Fingerprints are sent to the Metropolitan Police fingerprint bureau for verification. Electronic finger biometric details taken for prisoners in high security prisons are held on a stand-alone database. In Northern Ireland prisons biometric technology is used to identify individuals and control access to specific areas. Biometric images are kept within a secure IT database. The Identity Cards Act will enable biometric immigration documents to be designated as ID cards. The Scottish Executive should be approached for information relating to Scottish prisons.

Prisons: Records

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 May (WA 58), what categories of information are entered into the inmate core files of persons serving custodial sentences.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: An inmate core record (F2050 inmate personal record system) contains any information required to "manage" the inmate throughout their sentence. This information is compiled chronologically from reception to discharge; there are no restrictions on the type of information collated other that it is of an operational nature.

Race Relations: Race Equality Group

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the terms of reference for the Race Equality Group; and who has been invited to be a member of the group.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The group's terms of reference are as follows:
	To advise the Government about how the discrimination law review and, subsequently, the proposed Single Equality Bill should respond to black and minority ethnic needs and concerns, and race equality issues.
	To advise the Government on priorities for handling the institutional changes arising from Part 1 of the Equality Act 2006, in relation to race equality and to combating racial prejudice and race hate crime. The advice should include how work on race equality—for example, by groups such as race equality councils—can be supported at local level and how best to engage with black and minority ethnic communities, and race equality stakeholders, in the preparation of the first strategic plan of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR).
	To contribute knowledge, experience and expertise about race equality to the CEHR steering group. We will make the membership of the group known when its composition has been confirmed.

Railways: County Donegal Railway Artefacts

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans the museum authorities in Northern Ireland have to secure the future of the County Donegal railway artefacts currently at Foyle Road in Londonderry.

Lord Rooker: The National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland have not made any plans in relation to the artefacts at Foyle Road in Londonderry.
	The artefacts within the Foyle Valley Railway Museum belong to the North West of Ireland Railway Society and Derry City Council. We are informed that Derry City Council is looking at its priorities for the future strategic development of the Foyle Valley Railway Museum and site and intend establishing a strategic working group to consider the future of the museum and its role within the history and heritage of the region. This will include consideration of the longer-term conservation and preservation of the collection.

Roads: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they have to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the roads of Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy 2002–2012 sets out objectives to improve road safety over a 10-year period and reinforces the Government's commitment to road safety in Northern Ireland. It identifies 164 actions focused on the main causes of deaths and serious injuries and aims to reduce by a third the number of people killed or seriously injured and, within that target, to halve the number of children killed or seriously injured (from the average for 1996–2000).
	The latest verified figures, for 2004, demonstrate significant progress. By the end of 2004 the number of people killed or seriously injured had fallen by a quarter and the number of children by two-fifths. Nevertheless, the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads remains unacceptable.
	New primary road traffic legislation, on which Department of the Environment (DoE) consulted from October 2005 to January 2006, will be introduced which includes, among other things, penalty points and greater fines for non-wearing of seatbelts, using a hand-held mobile phone while driving and careless and inconsiderate driving; and powers to seize uninsured vehicles, require a driver to undertake an impairment test for drugs and to make increased use of retraining courses for drink driving, careless driving and speeding.
	DoE will launch a new seatbelt campaign during 2006; a new Highway Code will be prepared for publication in 2007 and measures will be considered to improve the safety of novice drivers, including graduated licensing. DoE is also working towards the mutual recognition, in 2007, of driving disqualifications between the UK and Republic of Ireland.
	Road safety is a significant factor in developing the vast majority of schemes funded from the Department for Regional Development's (DRD) roads service capital budget. Within that budget, the programmes specifically targeted at reducing collisions are the collision remedial and traffic calming programmes. In 2004–05, £2,605,000 was spent on collision remedial schemes and £2,549,000 on traffic calming schemes.
	The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) continues to support road safety campaigns through focused enforcement. PSNI has lead responsibility for the roll out of safety cameras in Northern Ireland and future meetings of its project board of the Northern Ireland safety camera scheme will include representation from DoE and DRD.
	The key to achieving significant reductions in road casualties lies in responsible road user behaviour. Everyone must take personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others on our roads.

Schools: Special Educational Needs

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 18 April (WA 214) concerning allegations about the treatment of a pupil in North Tyneside, why the Answer was provided by the Northern Ireland Department of Education.

Lord Rooker: It is not immediately clear from the noble Lord's Question as to whether he wanted a general answer in the light of an incident at a particular school. My Answer, on the Northern Ireland perspective, was given in good faith but I understand that the noble Lord was expecting an answer from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). I understand that the noble Lord has now retabled the Question to DfES.

Sex Offenders: Kevin Hazelwood

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further steps they will take to protect children from sexual offences following the conviction of Kevin Hazelwood for child rape.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In recent years the Government have made several important changes to the ways in which any risks posed by sex offenders in the community are managed. For example, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 strengthened the requirement on offenders to notify the police of their personal details and any changes to those details. We have introduced sexual offences prevention orders (SOPOs) to enable courts to impose prohibitions on offenders who pose a risk of sexual harm. In 2001 we placed multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) on a statutory footing, further strengthening them in 2003–04. Under MAPPA, the police, probation and prison services, supported by additional agencies including housing, health and social services, combine forces to manage the risk to the public posed by serious sexual and violent offenders. The result is more effective supervision and better public protection. These arrangements are being progressed by the National Offender Management Service and the MAPPA national steering group. This includes the national Risk of Harm Action Plan— to improve the timeliness and quality of risk assessment and management—and the MAPPA business plan 2005–08, which further formalises MAPPA, increases accountability and encourages the focus upon good practice and consistency.

Sex Offenders: Register

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide resources to make the sex offenders' register more effective in protecting children from sexual offences.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which are often known as the sex offenders register, are an automatic requirement on offenders convicted or cautioned for certain sexual offences. The notification requirements are a management tool to ensure that the police and probation services are kept informed of the whereabouts of sex offenders in order to manage the risks posed by such offenders and also help in the detection of sexual crime. All offenders who are subject to the notification requirements are managed in the community through the multi-agency public protection arrangements. In support of MAPPA and the notification requirements we have spent £11 million on ViSOR, the violent offender and sex offender register, an IT system that holds records on all MAPPA offenders and allows the prison, probation and police services to share information. We anticipate that a further £4.5 million will be spent each year running the system and ensuring it continues to be enhanced in support of public protection activities.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of complaints made by members of staff of Waterways Ireland to the sponsoring department about bullying and mismanagement by the chief executive.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 21 July (col. WA 324).
	I understand from Waterways Ireland that the confidential mediation process is continuing.